His teammates laughed hysterically, and the fans watching practice applauded.

Fangupo's been winning just about everyone over this fall, using his mammoth 330-pound frame to play his way into the first-sting defense.

"We're trying to accelerate his process here so he can help us in the opening game," USC head coach Pete Carroll. "Right now, we see him playing for us. Whether he's the dominant player at that position, I don't know that.

"He's getting a great opportunity with (Averell Spicer) on the sidelines right now, and we'll see what happens."